Jack’s Back

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Wednesday Challenge is: GARDEN ART. You may visit their fabulous site by clicking on the Link >> Here .. and the poem below is my response to their Prompt

Jack’s Back 

 

I woke at dawn 

And there was Jack  

Laying on my lawn 

 

Good morning, Mr. Frost 

I am at a loss 

With the ground so white 

And the air’s bitter bite 

Why are called Jack? 

The Jack’s I know from the outback 

Are all warmhearted folks  

And happy-go-lucky blokes 

Not cold-blooded guys 

Baptized by frozen skies 

 

Are you a naughty and chilly skite? 

Or a noble defender of the night 

Jack! Today at first light 

You gave my warm toes an icy fright 

Ivor Steven (c) July 2022

Ding Dong and Bang Clang?

I was in a dazed shock

As the bedside table rocked

When my alarm clock piercingly rang

Ding dong and bang clang it sang

Like a hammering chain gang

Breaking rocks, bang after bang

Awakened by the brutal ding and bang

Out of bed I sprang

Then abruptly, my mind went clang!

When the bells of Sunday morn began!

Ivor Steven (c) June 2022

Water-logged Boots

My poem ‘Water-logged Boots, was published at FREE VERSE REVOLUTION, in November 2019, and thank you to the editor Kristiana for her kind consideration of my piece…
And today on Weekly Prompts the Weekend Challenge is: Boots . Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here . Appropriately in response to their prompt, I have reposted this poem from 3 years ago.

Yes, I am small in this overburdened world

But I flutter freely when unfurled

I could be a family picture collage

Or a tiny squirrel amongst the foliage

On his journey of ups and downs

Collecting and storing his acorns

The trick is to enjoy the ups

While the floodgates are shut

Sometimes I did nearly drown

Other times I floated upside down

During the many seasonal rains

I wondered if I would ever swim again

So then I pretended to write a biblical book

Ignorantly thinking no-one would ever look

Afterwards, I thought I could walk on water

Then my boots became water-logged

And if you need to walk a mile in my shoes

You will have to learn how to swim and sing the blues

Ivor Steven (c) March 2022

Waiting For The Revolving Door

This week the Wednesday Challenge from Weekly Prompts is; OVERTHINK. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here . And today I have been “Overthinking” to make any sense out of my thoughts during the writing of my poem tonight …

Waiting at the Door




I was waiting last year

waiting last month

waiting last week

waiting yesterday

I am waiting again tonight

do I wait for tomorrow?

I might as well keep waiting

wait for what I have been waiting for

wait for that revolving door

Ivor Steven (c) February 2022

By Chance a Glance, While Christmas Shopping

The Wednesday challenge, on Weekly Prompts is: CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here .. and the poem below is my response to their prompt

By Chance a Glance, While Christmas Shopping 

I saw her

We were crossing in opposite directions 

Then ironically 

We happened to end up at the same cafe

What do you say?

When you have forgotten her name 

How to begin?

Time has flown by

Since we last met

Oh well, here I go

Walking across the cafe

Towards her table 

She catches sight of me 

Her eyes happy in acknowledgment 

“Hello Janine”

Yes! I remembered that smile 

We gleefully grinned 

And chatted as good friends do

Neither of us could recall 

How many years it was 

But no matter 

We continued our jovial banter 

Ivor Steven (c) December 2021

Either Way

On Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is: Fork In The Road , please go over and visit their fabulous site by clincking >> Here . The poem “Either Way” below is my response to their prompt

Either Way

At this point in time

Do you feel we have lost our way?

Our spinning world of rhyme

Is one big rotting orb of grime

Our life’s a journey

A climb up into the light

Or a fall into Hades

Either way, over time

Has existence become jaded?

We wait for a calming serenade

From above dark clouds full of pain

Us mere mortals need a different space

If our dreams are to ascend beyond this place

Ivor Steven (c) November 2021

Mad-hatters, No Matter the Season

On “Weekly Prompts” the Wednesday Challenge is, AUTUMN MAGIC. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here and the below poem is my response to their ‘prompt’ ..

Mad-hatters, No Matter the Season

The latter of matter

Did not scale the ladder

The origin of matter 

Is in our hearts pitter-patter

Matter is neither flatter nor fatter 

“What does it matter 

If we are all mad-hatters”?

We are but leaves and twigs of the ground 

Awaiting nature’s beckoning sounds

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

His New Sanctuary is Luxury

The Weekend Challenge from Weekly Prompts is: Sanctuary. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here . and the poem below is my response to their prompt …

His New Sanctuary is Luxury

Sometimes in life

Just when it’s right

There’s that moment

And tonight’s that moment

Sometimes we are lucky

Against all the odds

There’s that fortunate time

I am ecstatic and feeling blessed

Gratefully thankful

I write these words on today’s Newspaper

Reading tomorrow’s weather forecast

Happiness is here

Here right beside me

Under my verandah roof

Comfy and relaxed

Frankie love’s his new sanctuary

Ivor Steven (c) August 2021

Violets and a Purple Cyclamen

This Saturday the Weekend Challenge from ‘Weekly Prompts’ is March’s colour,  Purple. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here. My photos and the below poem is my response to their ‘Monthly Colour Challenge’.



Violets and a Purple Cyclamen



My morning courtyard is aglow

Below the garden’s colourful shadows

Of a newly blooming purple cyclamen

And the forever flowering bougainvillea

They are my sentinels for her hanging basket

Our wedding flower of Drooping Violets

Casting forever memories upon my writing booklet

Ivor Steven (c) March 2021

A Beautiful Red Flower

This week’s Wednesday Challenge, on Weekly Prompts is the word BEAUTIFUL. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here. Below is my beautiful response to the prompt…



A Beautiful Red Flower

Auburn was her hair

A ruby Day-lily

A red flame Begonia

Crimson and warm

Auburn was her hair

A scarlet Geranium

A maroon Bougainvillea

A soft vermilion art form

Ivor Steven (c) March 2021